Story of CEPT Logo

May 16, 2013

Update: Brouhaha over logo continues…

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News: CEPT University logo has changed.

For a while, there was voting going on facebook for what should become CEPT’s new Logo. Seems it’s over. The colourful sketch centred design seems to have lost to a plain and modern set of words – at least on CEPT website, and as of right now.

There is also some childish criticism going around and youth focussed (and news starved) dailies are making items out of the same.

It’s architects’ job, not planners’. Don’t ruin it by changing the logo.

As is obvious, many are really upset over the issue. A strange yet familiar brand of Alumni activism and reactions are emerging as well. I am looking with amazement at the groups being formed to oppose the ‘call’ taken by the administration. And public consultation? People want to be consulted because they liked the earlier logo? Because the institution teaches them public participation?

Even as it may not be clear how much ownership the President feels over School or CEPT (having studied there, when his father was the dean (same as president now), and one of the founding fathers of School of Architecture; and having his wife as well as sister study there… not to forget the three years his son spent in SID; as well as teaching; taking workshops and employing a good number of CEPT products); no one can blame him for not knowing it up close and personal.

Apparently there is some bad blood between the existing personalities and the new ones, like in all changes. Calling Bimal Patel autocratic has become a routine response on campus now, and what is euphemistically called administration is another name for the new President. If changing of the logo is, as portrayed, his move, it’s not earning him any brownie points.

Looking back…

The original (whatever that means) logo was certainly popular, judging by the emotional reactions of so many past and present students. No doubt that even bureaucratic organisations like Council of Architecture and Government of Gujarat departments dealing with a huge number of universities too instantly recognised anything CEPT thanks to that logo.

Adding this example from a surveyer’s website to prove it:

CEPT logo was recognisable from, like, a mile away…

And Janmarg page, with it’s all too famous logos…

Bus Rapid Transit website, where CEPT CRDC are consultants

But I am finding it really strange that the logo design is being attributed entirely to Mr. Bhaumik, and there is no mention from so many who participated in the CEPT logo contest back in 1992.

And strangely, none either of the seed planted by Binnie (One Kamaljit Singh Sandhu, hope the name is correct, from 1986 batch) during a NASA meet. It was a sketch made on a bath towel when the team participating in that NASA realised they had no banner or flag like the other schools. I wish someone would dig that up, and move the discussion towards constructive efforts to foster the brand recognition CEPT already has. There is certainly enough space below the university’s name on the red brick wall at the entrance…